Ray Benoma
Description
Ray Benoma is a Japanese creator known for developing original narrative-driven content, primarily recognized as the co-creator of the mystery and supernatural franchise Tasokare Hotel. Benoma Ray is credited as the original creator alongside the Japanese company SEEC, which developed and published the property as a mobile game. The name is frequently presented as Benoma Ray or Ray Benoma, with the latter being the credited creator for the anime adaptation.
The original Tasokare Hotel game was released for iOS and Android mobile devices in December 2017. It achieved significant commercial success, accumulating over 1.1 million downloads. The game is set in a liminal hotel existing between life and death, where souls who cannot decide whether to move on to the afterlife or return to the living world must recover their memories to determine their fate. The protagonist, Neko Tsukahara, arrives at the hotel with amnesia and works alongside the hotel staff while searching for clues to her identity.
The franchise expanded beyond its original mobile game format. A remake titled Tasokare Hotel Re:newal was released for iOS and Android in Japan in December 2022, followed by a Windows port via Steam in January 2024. A sequel, Tasokare Hotel: Tsubomi, has been announced for release in August 2025. The property also inspired a webtoon adaptation that began serialization online in December 2024, with art provided by Retsuna and Aisu Konjo.
An anime television series adaptation premiered in January 2025 and concluded in March 2025. Produced by the animation studio PRA and directed by Kosuke Koremizu, the series aired on Tokyo MX and other Japanese networks, running for twelve episodes. Upon the anime's announcement in June 2024, Benoma Ray issued a statement expressing honor at the adaptation, noting that the anime version incorporates developments unique to the medium that would provide new surprises and emotions even for fans of the original game. The adaptation was licensed internationally by Remow and streamed on platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
The creator's work is characterized by mystery and supernatural themes centered on memory, identity, and the boundary between life and death. The narrative framework of Tasokare Hotel uses the hotel as a space where characters confront their pasts, recover lost memories, and make consequential decisions about their existence. A stage play adaptation has also been announced, scheduled to run in Tokyo from April to May 2025, demonstrating the franchise's expansion across multiple entertainment media.
The original Tasokare Hotel game was released for iOS and Android mobile devices in December 2017. It achieved significant commercial success, accumulating over 1.1 million downloads. The game is set in a liminal hotel existing between life and death, where souls who cannot decide whether to move on to the afterlife or return to the living world must recover their memories to determine their fate. The protagonist, Neko Tsukahara, arrives at the hotel with amnesia and works alongside the hotel staff while searching for clues to her identity.
The franchise expanded beyond its original mobile game format. A remake titled Tasokare Hotel Re:newal was released for iOS and Android in Japan in December 2022, followed by a Windows port via Steam in January 2024. A sequel, Tasokare Hotel: Tsubomi, has been announced for release in August 2025. The property also inspired a webtoon adaptation that began serialization online in December 2024, with art provided by Retsuna and Aisu Konjo.
An anime television series adaptation premiered in January 2025 and concluded in March 2025. Produced by the animation studio PRA and directed by Kosuke Koremizu, the series aired on Tokyo MX and other Japanese networks, running for twelve episodes. Upon the anime's announcement in June 2024, Benoma Ray issued a statement expressing honor at the adaptation, noting that the anime version incorporates developments unique to the medium that would provide new surprises and emotions even for fans of the original game. The adaptation was licensed internationally by Remow and streamed on platforms including Amazon Prime Video.
The creator's work is characterized by mystery and supernatural themes centered on memory, identity, and the boundary between life and death. The narrative framework of Tasokare Hotel uses the hotel as a space where characters confront their pasts, recover lost memories, and make consequential decisions about their existence. A stage play adaptation has also been announced, scheduled to run in Tokyo from April to May 2025, demonstrating the franchise's expansion across multiple entertainment media.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview